Table



Sept. 7, 1937'. P. BALDWIIN 2,

TABLE Filed June 15, 1936 Philip Baldwin Z5 INVENTOR.

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ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 7, 1937 UNl'iED STATES PATENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

The present invention relates to an article of furniture and more particularly to. a foldable bridge table.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a table having means carried by the supporting structure thereof for attaching alamp; said lamp being detachably connected for removal when folding the table.

A further object is to provide a table having a top or a playing surface removably attached to the legs of the table andpositioned substantially centrally thereof and beneath the lamp also supported by the legsof the table. The invention will be fully and comprehensively understood from a consideration of the following detailed description when read in connection with the accompanying drawing which forms part of the application.

In the drawing:

.Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the new and improved table.

Fig. 2 is a partial perspective view illustrating the means for attaching the top or playing surface of the table.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary top elevational view illustrating the means for pivotally supporting the leg structure of the table.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of the lamp and means for attachment thereof to the supporting structure of the table; and

Fig. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the table in folded position.

Referring to the drawing for a more detailed description thereof, the new and improved table is indicated generally by the letter A and is preferably substantially square shaped so as to adapt its use as a bridge playing table. The means for supporting the table comprises a plurality of legs 6 having their upper ends curved at an angle of substantially 90 and pivotally connected to a central plate 1. Suitable brackets 8 serve to brace the leg members 6 when in open position, said brackets having a pivotal point 9 in the central portion thereof. The central mem" ber I is of the construction illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawing and is adapted to receive at spaced intervals the free ends of the leg members 6 and any means may be provided for pivotally connecting said leg members to the central member I.

A top or playing surface II] is removably attached to the leg members 6 by means of an angle bar I I carried by the top I0 and secured to each leg by means of a bolt and wing nut I2. It is to be understood that the top I0 is attached to each of the legs by the arrangement above described and when removing said top each wing nut is loosened, thereby permitting the bolt to be withdrawn and the top separated from its supports. The height of the top Ill may be adjusted by the provision of additional openings in the legs 6 for receiving the nut and bolt I2.

An illuminating means is also carried by the leg members 6 and is desired to be detachably connected thereto. By reference to Fig. 4 of the drawing, the construction of the illuminating means is readily apparent. A casing I3 is attached to the central member 1 by'means of the bolt I4 and nut I5 which passes thru the member I and into a threaded bearing I6 carried by said casing. The interior of the casing I3 is preferably .of areflecting surface so as to reflect the light emitted from lamp I'I thru the lens I8 over the entire area of the top or playing surface III. The lamp I! is supported in a suitable socket I9 connected to the casing and current is supplied thru the cord 2|] which is threaded thru one of the leg members 6, and said cord carries at' the opposite end thereof the usual connecting plug 2| and switch 22. By threading the lamp cord thru one of the leg members, it is concealed from view, thereby increasing the attractive appearance of the table. The casing I3 may be readily interchanged and removed by removal of the nut I5 from the bolt M, and when removed with the top I0, the table is adapted to be folded to the position illustrated in Fig. 5 of the drawing.

It will be noted that the lamp casing I3 has the lower portion thereof provided with marginal edges 23 which extend from the casing a sufficient distance toenable their use as a supporting ledge for ash trays, glasses and the like. This is an added feature which forms a part of the illuminating means and permits the several players seated around the table to utilize the entire surface of the table for playing purposes.

From the above description it will be apparent that there is provided a table that may be easily and readily set up for use as a bridge table. The inclusion of the lamp structure not only provides suitable lighting facilities for the table but also presents a supporting ledge 23 for ash trays and the like. It is of course to be understood that the invention may also be used as a floor lamp and when so used will reflect sufficient illumination for several persons seated in close proximity to the structure. When using the device in this manner the top or supporting surface I0 may be removed if desired.

It is to be understood that this improvement is capable of extended application and is not confined to the exact showing of the drawing nor to the precise construction described and, therefore,

5 such changes and modifications may be made therein as do not affect the spirit of the invention nor exceed the scope thereof as expressed in the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is:

1. In combination with a table having supporting leg members, said leg members having their upper ends curved, means for pivotally connecting said curved ends, a top surface detachably connected intermediate the ends of said legs, a lamp containing diffusing housing carried by said means and means for detachably connecting said lamp, said housing having means for supporting articles to be used on said top surface.

2. In combination with a table having supporting leg members, said leg members having their upper ends curved in such manner as to cause convergence of same at their tops, means between adjacent legs for pivotally connecting said curved ends, a top surface detachably and vertically-adjustably connected intermediate the ends of said legs, a lamp suspended from said connecting means, said lamp including a casing having a diffusor and marginal edges extending therefrom, said edges constituting a reflector,

means for detachably connecting said casing to said connecting means, and circuit-wires entrained up one leg to said casing.

3. In a device of the character described, four elongated members having a portion of their lengths bent at right angles to the rest of their lengths, a four-cornered plate, pivotal attachments from the bent end of each elongated member to a corner of the plate, links connecting adjacent elongated members outside the plate, and pivots in said links whereby the device may be laterally folded into two parallel, contacting U- bents, and unfolded into an upwardly-convergent frame structure.

4. In a device of the character described, four elongated members having a portion of their lengths bent at right angles to the rest of their lengths, a four-cornered plate, pivotal attachments from the bent end of each elongated member to a corner of the plate, links connecting adjacent elongated members outside the plate, and pivots in said links, a planar surface, bifurcated members at each corner, and adjustable securing members on each leg engageable with said bifurcated members.

5. In a device of the character described, four elongated members having a portion of their lengths bent at right angles to the rest of their lengths, a four-cornered plate, pivotal attachments from the bent end of each elongated member to a corner of the plate, said plate having an aperture therein, a disengageable suspensor passing therethru, an open-faced box suspended therefrom, a lamp socket projecting horizontally thereinto, light-diffusing means in the open face of the box, and a combined ledge and reflector around the outer periphery of the box.

6. A table of the character described comprising leg members, a top surface, means for detachably connecting said top surface to said leg members, said leg members extending substantially above said top surface, a central member pivotally connected to said leg members at their upper ends, and illuminating means carried by said central member and adapted to illuminate said top surface.

PHILIP BALDWIN. 

